Showing posts with label photographing wildflowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photographing wildflowers. Show all posts

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Visit Missouri- Review of Frontier Park-St. Charles

sunflowers photo by mbgphoto

Located on the Missouri Riverfront in St. Charles you will find a wonderful park, the Lewis and Clark Boathouse Museum and a delightful nature center.


Lewis and Clark Boathouse Museum


Lewis and Clark Boathouse Museum in St. Charles, Missouri

The Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum is a wonderful way to spend time reviewing the history that took place in this area.  There is a wonderful display on the Lewis and Clark Expedition with maps for you to follow the paths taken.  There is a replica of a keel boat used during the expedition times and many other artifacts from the era.  

The  museum also gives a lot of information on the Missouri River ecosystem.  

Outside the museum you will find a wonderful nature center.  It is a small area but packed with informational signs and lots of beautiful flowers.  I particularly like to photograph the sunflowers.  

Here are some photos from a late July visit to the area.

marsh mallows plaquesunflowers photo by mbgphoto

pollinator garden plaque 
orange flower photo by mbgphoto


flowers photo by mbgphoto


purple coneflowers photo by mbgphotoI was delighted by all of the colorful cone flowers that were in bloom on this visit.
orange coneflowers photo by mbgphoto
red coneflowers photo by mbgphoto


yellow coneflowers photo by mbgphoto


coneflowers photo by mbgphoto

Frontier Park

Just east of the museum area on the riverfront you will find Frontier Park.

Missouri riverfront in St. Charles

The park covers 16 acres and is a wonderful way to spend a leisurely time watching the boats on the riverfront, watching events on the stage, visiting the old railroad depot, or taking a walk along the Katy trail. Here are the features of the park according to the St. Charles Parks website.

  • 16 Acres
  • 15 Foot Lewis & Clark Statue
  • MKT Depot
  • MO Dept. of Natural Resources Katy Trail runs through Frontier Park
  • Outdoor Jaycee Stage
  • 2 Picnic Shelters
  • Paved Hike/Bike Trail
  • Rest Area (Benches)
  • Restrooms are open year round.


From <http://www.stcharlesparks.com/park/frontier-park/

Missouri riverfront in St. Charles

St. Charles

At Christmas time the city celebrates a "St. Charles Christmas Traditions".  One of the traditions includes a parade featuring Santa's from various countries.  At the end Santa Claus stops at the railroad depot above for children to visit and have their photos taken with Santa Claus  A couple of years ago my two youngest granddaughters were visiting before the holidays and I took them to see Santa.  The depot was a wonderful spot for this tradition.  

St. Charles depot


The St. Charles area features a lot of festivals held in the area and the stage seen above is often the place where entertainment is featured. People can bring their lawn chairs and sit in the grassy areas surrounding the stage.  Some of the festivals include an Independance Day Celebration, Festival of the Little Hills, Craft Fairs and much more.

This area along the Missouri riverfront in St. Charles is a real treasure of the city and an area I never tire of visiting.

Zazzle Products from my Photographs





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Review of Nature Photo Tips

Indian Paintbrush photo by mbgphoto
Indian Paintbrush
On a beautiful April day, I visited Shaw Nature Reserve, which is located about an hour west of St. Louis, Missouri.  I took the trip with two of my photographer friends and we set out on the trails to try to capture the beauty that surrounded us.  The Indian Paintbrush were in full bloom so we had lots of opportunities for colorful photos. In this article, I will share some of my tips on photographing wildflowers and highlights from my day.

Capture the Overall Feel of the Area

Although I love to take close up photos of the flowers, I like to have some of my photos showing the overall feel of the area. This photo shows a field of the beautiful orange Indian Paintbrush.  There is also a touch of a purple wildflower in the photo.
field of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

Lines can Draw Interest to Your Photos

Lines in a photo can draw interest to the area.  In the first photo I used an old rail fence and in the second photo the branches of the tree on the right-hand side of the photo lead you into the wildflowers.
old rail fence and wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

wildflowers and trees photo by mbgphoto


Close Up Photos are a Great Way to Hone in on a Specific Flower

wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

wildflowers photo by mbgphoto

Wide Angle Lenses can Give a Different Perspective

I had read a tip recently to use a wide angle lens when taking flower photos and get in very close to the flower (just a few inches away).  This will make the flower look much bigger in relation to the background.  I tried this and here is the result. A tip for you who only have a camera phone with you.  This shot can work great with most camera phones that have good wide angle lenses.
wildflowers in the woods photo by mbgphoto

There is More than Wildflowers

When I photograph a place that has beautiful flowers, I also try to take a few photographs to give a feel for the rest of the area and my day.  The photos below show a fallen tree, my photographer buddies, and the path to the trail house.
woods photo by mbgphoto

photo by mbgphoto

path through the woods photo by mbgphoto

Zazzle Note Cards

I enjoy making notecards from my photos.  Here are a few I made from my trip to Shaw Nature Reserve.

Indian Paintbrush Card
Indian Paintbrush Card by mbgphoto
Find more Wildflowers Cards at Zazzle



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Most Recent Reviews on Review This Reviews






Search for Reviews by Subject, Author or Title

The Review This Reviews Contributors



SylvestermouseSylvestermouseDawn Rae BDawn Rae BMbgPhotoMbgPhotoBrite-IdeasBrite-IdeasWednesday ElfWednesday ElfOlivia MorrisOlivia MorrisTreasures by BrendaTreasures by BrendaThe Savvy AgeThe Savvy AgeMargaret SchindelMargaret SchindelRaintree AnnieRaintree AnnieLou16Lou16Sam MonacoSam MonacoTracey BoyerTracey BoyerRenaissance WomanRenaissance WomanBarbRadBarbRadBev OwensBev OwensBuckHawkBuckHawkDecorating for EventsDecorating for EventsHeather426Heather426Coletta TeskeColetta TeskeMissMerFaeryMissMerFaeryMickie_GMickie_G

 


Review This Reviews is Dedicated to the Memory of Our Beloved Friend and Fellow Contributor

Susan DeppnerSusan Deppner

We may be apart, but
You Are Not Forgotten





“As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and or Etsy (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from purchases.” Disclosure Statement

X